Exciting forecast for Europe’s renewable energy jobs
by 2020 more than 2.7 million people would be employed in the renewable energy sector, culminating in more than 6 million jobs by 2050.
Europe’s Pathway to 100% Renewable Energy CALFINDER 28 April 2010, The European Renewable Energy Council (EREC) just released RE-thinking 2050, a report outlining a pathway that would lead the European Union to 100-percent renewable energy by 2050. Continue reading
Need to redraft Report of International Commission on Nuclear Proliferation and Disarmament.
Paragraph 15 and the remainder of the document would need to be re-worded to require phasing out nuclear power. Support for the following points might help to influence next month’s NPT New York conference.
by Peter Ravine, 26 April 2010, With due respect to Dr Gareth Evans, I am not impressed by the Commission’s December 2009 report as indicated by the following extract: Continue reading
At last, Australian solar projects to be announced
Shortlisted solar projects to see the light of day * Giles Parksinson , The Australian, April 26, 2010 IT could be a big fortnight for the Australian solar industry. The shortlist for the first two projects in the $1.5 billion Solar Flagships program is expected to be announced soon, and so will the much awaited but long-delayed winners of the solar component of the Renewable Energy Demonstration Program. Continue reading
Finland increasing renewable energy sources
“This addition of renewable energy is equivalent in scale to three big nuclear power plants.”
Finland Announces Plans to Use More Renewable Energy Greenfudge.org, by Arkisaeo, 23 Apr 2010 Finland announced plans to step up and meet EU requirements on cutting greenhouse gas emissions this week.
The EU requirement is to raise the share of renewable energy to 38% of energy consumption by 2020. In order to meet this goal, Finland must raise renewable energy production by 38 terawatt hours. How do they plan to reach this goal? …. Finland also plans on adding wood-based and wind energy systems, plus increasing the use of biofuels and heat pumps. Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, stated:
“This addition of renewable energy is equivalent in scale to three big nuclear power plants.” … “In terms of scale, this is a massive solution.”
If all of these energy forms are put into action, it will cut Finland’s annual CO2 emissions by 7 million tons. Reducing coal use on top of that would cut an extra 2 million tons off their emissions….
Record Growth for Wind Power in USA
U.S. Wind Energy Industry Reports Growth in 2009 , An Annual Report from the AWEA Reports Record Growth Green Chip Stocks, By Hilary Stingley , April 23rd, 2010Amidst a slowly improving economy, the wind energy industry saw a lot of growth and movement in 2009.An annual report released in early April by the American Wind Energy Association showed the addition of more than 10,000 MW of new wind power across the U.S.-bringing the total to more than 35,000 MW overall.Wind continues to be the leader among renewable energy resources, accounting for more than 39 percent of new power sources added to the grid.Denise Bode, CEO of AWEA, said in a statement that the wind energy industry is “on the verge of explosive growth if the right policies-including a national Renewable Electricity Standard-are put in place.”….
Within the last year, Iowa became the first state to get more than 10 percent of its electricity from wind.Neighboring states North Dakota and Minnesota were close to the 10 percent mark, while Texas remains the leader in wind farms…..The AWEA’s report called for a national Renewable Electric Standard and infrastructure updates to connect nearly 300,000 MW of proposed wind projects that await interconnection to the electric grid. U.S. Wind Energy Industry Reports Growth in 2009
Big uranium promoter South Australian govt seeks environmental credibility
South Australian government announces Community Sustainability Grants. Premier, the Hon Mike Rann said, “The Government of South Australia is pleased to be partnering with Conservation SA to help communities become more resilient so that they can readily respond to climate change.
“Climate change is a real issue that affects everyone, and programs like this will give South Australians the opportunity to be part of the local solution.”
Community groups and non-government organisations are invited to apply for small (up to $3,000) or medium (up to $10,000) grants
Rudd govt’s nuclear waste dump bill more draconian than Howard’s
NT: Nuclear waste facility to be dumped on locals, Socialist Party (Australia) , 23 April 2010, Contradicting the ALP’s claims of consent, the April 2008 NT Labor Party conference unanimously passed a resolution calling on the federal government to exclude Muckaty because the nomination “was not made with the full and informed consent of all traditional owners and affected people and as such does not comply with the Aboriginal Land Rights Act.” Several federal ministers and members of government have also acknowledged the opposition and distress of locals.
This gives lie to Ferguson’s claim that he is restoring ‘fairness’ to the issue of radioactive waste management, Continue reading
Earth Day – we need local, national, and global action
This Earth Day: Recommit to Think Globally and Act Locally, THE HUFFINGTON POST, David Gordon, 22 April 2010, “…… We need to make some tough choices. We need to transform our electricity systems by multiplying energy efficiency measures and to invest only in renewable energy, not in more fossil fuels. Continue reading
“Developing” world a colony for “developed” world’s nuclear radioactive wastes
the developing world has unfortunately become the dumping ground for all sorts of hazardous waste from the developed world.
Radioactive Waste Came From Abroad, Officials Say | India, THE FASTER TIMES, Jeremy Kahn, 19 April 2010, Last week, I reported on the disconcerting case of a bunch of radioactive Cobalt 60 turning up in a West Delhi scrap dealer’s shop, resulting in the poisoning of at least six people and a considerable amount of panic.Now, The Wall Street Journal talks to nuclear scientists investigating the incident. They say that while they have not yet determined the source of radioactive metal, they are certain that it did not come from an Indian source…….As I mentioned in my initial post on this – the developing world has unfortunately become the dumping ground for all sorts of hazardous waste from the developed world. Radioactive Waste Came From Abroad, Officials Say | India
USA’s “blue ribbon commission – no idea what to do with nuclear waste!
there is no real federal waste management plan….Energy Secretary Steven Chu has created a “blue ribbon” commission to help create a new long-term waste policy..
Nuclear Utilities Sue DOE To Halt Nuclear Waste Fees, Nuclear Street, 22 April 2010, Utilities contend that the DOE has collected over $33 billion since 1983, never came for nuclear waste and has no federal waste management plan – By Stephen Heiser – Continue reading
Canadian researchers show the power of solar power
if they can mount solar panels on the rooftops and on those areas that are economically unproductive they can produce enormous amount of solar power
Ontario Solar Power could match US Nuclear Power, Alternative Energy April 20th, 2010 –Queen’s University Applied Sustainability Research Group located in Kingston, Canada comes out with two studies that claim solar power in southeastern Ontario can be created in abundance. The natural question is how much abundance?. The answer is mind-boggling. Southeastern Ontario has the potential to produce almost as much power as all the nuclear reactors in the United States! Continue reading
On Renewable Energy: False Claims by Switkowski Report and the Nuclear Lobby
The promoters of nuclear power claim that we have to choose between coal and nuclear, that there is no alternative. This is a false choice, between BHP-Billiton and … BHP-Billiton.
Nuclear power: no solution to climate change, Green Left, quoting Mark Diesendorf , 17 April 2010 “………The 2006 Uranium Mining, Processing and Nuclear Energy Review, chaired by Dr Switkowski.. claimed that “nuclear power is the least-cost low-emission technology that can provide baseload power”. However, there was no basis in the report for such a gratuitous statement, which was outside the terms of reference of the report. Continue reading
Can we trust nuclear scientists to tell the truth about nuclear technology?
Yes, it’s all very exciting. Obama’s Nuclear Security Summit has made some moves in the direction of nuclear security.
And, yes, it’s a blow to uranium mining shares, now that old weapons fuel is going to be turned into low enriched uranium, and sold cheaply as fuel for nuclear reactors.
BUT – what an opportunity for nuclear scientists, like say ANSTO, to spruik their wares – in recycling, reprocessing technology! And now we’re gonna need some gee-whiz answer to highly radioactive wastes – like say ANSTO ‘s Synroc. (Never mind that all countries decided over 30 years ago that it really wouldn’t work)
NASA’s cruel radiation experiments on squirrel monkeys might be stopped
NASA should drop the monkey business at Brookhaven Lab, Newsday.com, April 15, 2010 By MARJORIE CRAMER ….. We know that these and other sources of ionizing radiation are harmful to humans. So why would NASA want to bombard as many as 30 squirrel monkeys with radiation to try to understand how interplanetary travel affects astronauts? The proposal for this research is now being reviewed…OPINION: NASA should drop the monkey business at Brookhaven Lab
University of Queensland leads the way with solar panels
1 This month
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
To see nuclear-related stories in greater depth and intensity
Antinuclear 